New South Wales

Sydney City

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Australia

Rockdale Opera Company is one of the most unique bodies sponsored by Local Government in Australia. It was founded in 1946 as the Rockdale Municipal Orchestra under the conductorship of Cedric Ashton M.B.E. and in 1948 Council decided to extend its cultural field to include opera. The four founding members of the Rockdale Municipal Opera Company were conductor Cedric Ashton, tenor Alan Ferris, pianist Megan Evans and cellist Rupert Orchard. The opera “Faust” was the Company’s first production and in the following year “Carmen” was staged. Every year since, the Company has produced at least one grand opera, making it the longest continually running opera company in Australia.

Over the past 74 years, there have been several company managers, most notably Councillor Ron Rathbone O.A.M., who in 1971, re-organised the Company when it looked in danger of closing. Fortunately it didn’t! -– and in 2008 the Company celebrated its 60th anniversary by staging a production of its inaugural opera – “Faust.”

The philosophy of the Company is to provide opera at a price patrons can afford, whilst at the same time providing a platform on which up and coming singers can get a start on the stage and have the opportunity to perform with established artists.

Since its inception, the Rockdale Opera Company has been a springboard for many singers. Artists such as Geoffrey Chard and the late Deborah Riedel have appeared with Rockdale Opera before going on to establish successful careers with Opera Australia and overseas companies. In 1951 a young Joan Sutherland was engaged to sing at Rockdale but never did - as luck would have it, she won the Sun Aria Opera Competition and went off to London instead! Jonathon Welch, now well-known for the television series “Choir of Hard Knocks” sang in productions at Rockdale in the 1980’s and 90’s and most recently, Jose Carbo went on to sing the role of Figaro in Opera Australia’s “Barber of Seville” after dazzling Rockdale audiences in the same role in 2000. He is now one of Opera Australia’s leading baritones.

The Rockdale Opera Company is administered by a committee, which is autonomous and is responsible for choosing a program for each year.

Sydney City, Australia

Rockdale Opera

Company

Approved

Rockdale Town Hall

2023

2022

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2011

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

Organization contributor ID

include virtual contributors

2024

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Chefdirigent Musiktheater

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Chorus master

Composer

Conductor

Costume designer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Lighting designer

Makeup artist

Orchestra

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Set designer

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Stage director

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Countertenor

Singer

Bass

Contralto

Baritone

Tenor

Mezzo-soprano

Bass-baritone

Soprano

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

Cover

We wish you a glorious & joyous festive season & New Year.

English

Cesar Octavio Moreno Zayas

Video

Completed

Pending

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Image

Profile

Rockdale Opera

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